Popular fashion doll photos from 2014

Here are the top ten fashion doll photos (sorted by number of favorites) on Flickr. Above, it's On the Rise Elise Jolie, taken at IFDC in July. She was displayed in the Integrity Toys booth. This photo has 30 favorites.


Elise was popular this year, and one of the dolls I did not order from the collection. This photo has 28 favorites, and was also taken at IT's display booth at IFDC.


On the Prowl Eugenia was another favorite, coming it at #3 with 25 favorites. She too was on display. I didn't add her to my collection, either.


Interestingly, this photo of the yellow dress Barbie Look Red Carpet collection doll (I think with the Louboutin face) comes in at #4 with 25 favorites (and fewer views). I took this photo at the Grant A Wish convention in April.


A second Grant A Wish photo from April comes in at #5 with 24 favorites. This Barbie Look Red Carpet doll uses the Lea face and is wearing a silver gown.


Those sneak peeks of the Barbie Look collection were quite popular this year. This doll takes the #6 spot with 22 favorites. She uses the lovely Aphrodite face.


Weirdly, this dark photo comes in at #7. It's another photo from the IFDC convention, at Integrity's booth. Elusive Creature Natalia Fatale has garnered 21 favorites.


A blurry shot takes up spot #8, also with 21 favorites. This showcases the Mackie, Aphrodite and Lea sculpts of the Red Carpet Barbie Look collection previewed at the Grant a Wish convention.


Agent Lotta Danger (Poppy Parker) was manufactured by Integrity Toys, and displayed at IFDC in July. She comes in at #9 with 18 favorites.


French Kissed Tulabelle is a 16" Integrity Toys doll. She comes in at #9 with 17 favorites. I actually ordered just the fashion from this doll, and it's amazing.


Finally, coming in the 10the place with 17 favorites is Vivid Encounter Adele Makeda. I ended up ordering this doll, and she is great! I think her dress is amazingly detailed, and I really like her makeup.

After perusing these photos myself, I realize two things: 1) I should continue to attend conventions and doll shows, and 2) I need to take some more photos of dolls that are actually in my collection.

Cult of Doll: taster to be published on New Year's Day!

Dear readers and doll fans--

It's what you need to start off 2015 with a bang: a chance to preview Cult of Doll with an exclusive taster of this wonderful almanac on New Year's Day!

Go subscribe to the blog today, so you won't miss out.

What is Cult of Doll? It's an eclectic collection of short stories featuring the dolls and characters that the Cult of Doll members have created over the past year. Read, for example, this preview, about Miss Araminta and her Curiosity Shop, a character created by Yve Hooson and Grace Garton:

Miss Araminta's Curiosity Shop sits quietly among the other shabby retailers on Goldfinch Lane in Whitechapel. This well trodden thoroughfare's once genteel aspirations are now just a mocking dream as poverty and vice creep ever closer, the tiny brass bells over the doorways tinkle less frequently and many despair. Not Miss Araminta. She revels in obscurity and finds comfort in the shadows at the back of her establishment. Customers disturb her infrequently and even the weak rays of sunshine that permeate the grimy window panes enter here cautiously, tentatively picking out the glint of a glass eyeball or twinkle on the matted fur of the Taxidermy tableaux which sits on the desk beside her armchair. Miss Araminta knows that this shop finds those who need it. As for the rest? She gives not a care.

Don't you want to know more? I do!

Additionally, you can preview Hally Levesque's story, "Nefarious Nelle," also titled, "A Cautionary Tale of Sweet Revenge or How Nelle Grey Arrived at the Notion that Sometimes Learning to Love Thy Neighbor Can Be Murder."

Don't wait--subscribe now, and be the first in line for a free preview!

Steffie of the Day: City Shine Barbie Look - Gold Dress

The latest Bill Greening Steffie is really a cutie, and I'm relieved to see a new Steffie in Mattel's 2014 line-up--just barely, as she hasn't reached shelves on the west coast yet. She is for sale for $19.95 on Barbie Collector, or perhaps a little more from your favorite Barbie dealer. (I used my quarterly discount toward my purchase!)

She has rooted lashes, brown eyes, and the LA Tan skin tone. I think the combination is quite pretty with her hair. I can't wait to take her out of the box and restyle her.

Also, her dress is not quite as bad as I was expecting. I have to confess, glitter isn't really my thing, and this is a really glittery dress. The good news is that it doesn't look like the glitter will just flake off over everything--like that saying about glitter goes. And the structured style is pretty modern. It's better than lamé would have been, I think.

Her plastic jewelry isn't too bad, either--considering it's plastic. She uses a Model Muse body, of course--super slim, not very posable, etc.--but her skin tone looks very close to several Liv body donors, I think (just for you Frankensteins among my dear readers). I think she'd be a great candidate for a hybrid!

You can see a few more boxed photos on Flickr. I'll hopefully be taking her out of the box soon.

Virtual Factory Sale at Tonner Doll Company!

15 Years! Tyler Wentworth dressed doll

It's going on now--don't delay, as it's one day only! I think it's happening now through tomorrow, noon, EST.

Here is the link. While supplies last. And based on my last post--check out Tyler Wentworth, 15th Anniversary convention exclusive for just $99!

Happy 15th Anniversary, Tyler! (Dedicated to Carolyn!)

Tyler Wentworth, Robert Tonner's signature fashion doll, is one of the founding models and dolls of his company. She has a large fan base, and also a signature style, as you can see in this doll, Signature Style Tyler from 2009. She wears a white blouse (this one sateen with rhinestone buttons) and a black skirt. She has celebrated her fifteenth anniversary this year.


Classic doesn't get more classy in Soir de Fete, a Theatre de la Mode style from 2002.


Also from 2002, Reflet d'Argent is a second Theatre de la Mode fashion. I adore the ballgown and the silver beading on the dress and gloves.


Metro Styl Tyler was a convention exclusive (from the 2006 Metropolis luncheon) with gorgeous black curls and a lovely red and black outfit. She includes two skirts, I believe, for multiple styling options.


Mademoiselle a la Mode Tyler is a Paris Fashion Doll exclusive from 2008, limited to 100 dolls. She was in my collection for quite a while, and just a lovely lady. Her softly blushed cheeks always did something special for me.


Fire Opal Tyler is a wigged dressed doll released in 2011. I love her bright matte lips, and that she retains a classic style, even in her edgier fashion.


In 2013, Tyler and Sydney were released as wigged basics. I love Tyler's peachy brown shade. It sets off her bold blue eyes.


You can't mention Tyler without bringing up the controversial 2.0 sculpt. To many collectors, this will never be Tyler, but I've always loved her face. My favorite issue is Au Milieu de l'Hiver, a 2008 limited 100 edition from the Paris Fashion Doll Festival.

 
Along the same lines, in 2009, Celebration a Paris was released with short blonde curls. This Tyler 2.0 is simply adorable, and is also limited to 100.

Wonder Woman 52 uses the new Tyler 2.0 sculpt on a heroine body, but I never dress her as a super hero. Her hair is soft and full--right out of the box--with minimal styling needed, which I appreciate, as most of my regular readers know. She's dressed in a slightly too small Theatre de la Mode gown called Amethyst, and jewels handcrafted by my friend Tracy.

Tyler also made an appearance (several, in fact) in resin. This is the first, Ultimate Basic Tyler. Mine has had a faceup by Overnight Flight, which really softens her features.